As perhaps you might assume, I am going to have to make myself a lot smarter about the capabilities of the 45-70 Springfield.

Can one of you experts help here?

What I am interested in (at this point) is what kind of accuracy can be expected at 100 yards using an original barrel in perfect condition with 70 gr. of black powder and a home cast bullet when the cartridge is loaded by an expert at reloading 45-70 for accuracy.

I see this situation as being optimal. My situation will clearly be at a lower level of performance because:

1. The barrel is not perfect.
2. The casting will not be perfect.
3. The load will not be perfect.
4. I am a lousey shot.

Armed with the information I am seeking, I intend to determine:

1. How well the rifle shoots
2. How well my rounds shoot
3. How well I shoot (I have not shot a rifle since the Navy in about 1993.)

__________________
Doc

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government. Thomas Jefferson

Doc,
I can't directly answer your question, however I have an original Springfield Trapdoor that I have shot (about 10 years ago). I found that even with a barrel that had some pitting it was pretty darn accurate. Paul Matthews talks about being happy with a gun that shoots within about 1 minute of arc. Obviously he spent decades working on all of the variables.
I've done more reading than actual shooting and working up loads for my 45-70 Sharps, and what I have learned is that there are an enormous amount of variables. So, I wouldn't necessarily assume right away that it's your gun if your patterns are not good!
I'll let the experts give you a grouping number... my 45-70 groups at 100yds are nothing to speak of, even with a new sharps.

The barrel being less than pristine doesn't mean it wont shoot. My friend got himself a 22 (mod 60) that had been in a house fire and got wet and rusty from sitting after it had been drenched with fireman hose water. We "knew" it was to be a lost cause but cleaned it up anyway and I'll be darned if it didn't shoot better than my 10/22.

So the only thing you can do is to try and hope for the best. I have no knowledge of BP loads but I know that RX7 works very very well in many 45/70 loads.

You could check with "Woody" on the Shiloh board.
He was shooting a Trapdoor at the Southeastern Regional Midrange in Georgia last month and doing pretty well with it. It kind of fell off at 600 yards but was right in there with the custom and sporting rifles at 200 and 300.

I have looked closely at the muzzle and it appears the shortening of the barrel was done by someone with less than the right tools. The barrel was not crowned and I am not certain how square it is. This will be another thing I will keep in mind as I go shoot the thing.

Looks like the work was done a long time ago.

__________________
Doc

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government. Thomas Jefferson

Maybe in a blister packed straightline so as to get a longer hunting season because they don't sell the real stuff at Cheapmart.
There was an effort to get black powder classed with smokeless and subs for shipping, but I guess it fell through.

This email link is to reach site administrators for assistance, if you cannot access TFL via other means. If you are a TFL member and can access TFL, please do not use this link; instead, use the forums (like Questions, Suggestions, and Tech Support) or PM an appropriate mod or admin.

If you are experiencing difficulties posting in the Buy/Sell/Trade subforums of TFL, please read the "sticky" announcement threads at the top of the applicable subforum. If you still feel you are qualified to post in those subforums, please contact "Shane Tuttle" (the mod for that portion of TFL) via Private Message for assistance.

This email contact address is not an "Ask the Firearms Expert" service. Such emails will be ignored. If you have a firearm related question, please register and post it on the forums.